Portable vanity



Nov. 10, 1964 J. HINDIN ETAL 3,156,510

PORTABLE VANITY Filed Dec. 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIE. 1 2 /2 INVENTORS Jesse Ill/val BY 464 .2. l/IND/A/ FILE. 5 MAMA.

Nov. 10, 1964 J. HlNDlN ETAL 3,156,510

PORTABLE VANITY Filed Dec. 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS J'Esss Mun/1v BY 264 1: #10014! Mw-MMM/ Arrow/er United States Patent 3,156,510 PORTABLE VANITY Jesse Hindin and Elga I. Hindin, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Portable Make-Up Vanity Corporation, Larkspur, Calih, a corporation of California Filed Dec. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 247,739 2 Claims. (Cl. 312-223) This invention relates generally to a combined vanity case and table, and more particularly, to such a case having a compartmented storage area and provided with collapsible legs thereunder and having a closure cover with a mirrored panel on the inside surface thereof.

In the past, a number of collapsible tables have been constructed having collapsible leg units to facilitate carrying thereof and also bathroom wall cabinets of various types have been designed which incorporate the use of two or three-way mirror designs. However, no one has developed a combined portable vanity table with an overnight case which will provide a compact carrying case unit while permitting relatively quick and easy conversion to a vanity table having a mirror panel which also serves as a closure for the carrying case.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel and compact overnight carrying case which can be quickly and easily set up as a vanity table and which is provided with a hinged mirror panel which serves also as a top closure for the case.

It is another object to provide a compartmented carrying case having collapsible legs mounted thereunder and provided with a plurality of hinged closure panels to produce a versatile vanity table when in set-up condition and wherein certain of the top closure panels are provided with mirrored surfaces.

It is another object to provide an overnight carrying case which may be set up as a vanity table having hinged mirror panels thereon and provided with illumination means for lighting of said mirrors.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of ourportable vanity in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view showing the support legs in a collapsed condition;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view with portions thereof broken away; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the case in a closed condition.

In our invention of a compact carrying case A we provide a storage compartment generally designated 11, a top closure portion designated 12 and a lower closure panel 13 such that when the case A is in a collapsed condition it will resemble a small suitcase or attach case as shown best in FIG. 5.

More specifically, the storage compartment is defined by a pair of upstanding side walls 11a11a and end walls 11b-11b with a plurality of partitions 14 therein to divide the storage area into a plurality of compartments 14a as best shown in FIG. 2, and wherein the compartments 1411 are provided with a bottom 1411, such compartments used according to the users wishes for storing and arranging cosmetics or similar articles.

A pair of winged panel members 1515 are hinged respectively to the uppermost portion of the end walls 11b by hinges such as the knife hinges 15a-15a, and in the form shown the panels 15 are not more than onehalf the length of the case to permit collapsing over the storage compartment 11 for covering the same. When 3,1565% Patented Nov. 10, 1954 the panels 15 are in open condition, as shown in FIG. 1, it should be noted that the hinges 15a will support the panel 15 in outstanding relation to the case providing a work area. In the closed position the panel members 15-15 abut against and rest on stop members 11c11c positioned on the upstanding side walls Ila-11a such that the panels 1515 will not bear upon the partitions 14 nor crush the contents of the partitioned areas 14a.

A pair of recesses 1616 are formed in the bottom of the storage compartment 11 as by having the bottoms 14b of the compartments adjacent the side walls 11a elevated above the bottom 14b of the central portion of compartments as best shown in FIG. 4. A pair of legs 1717 are pivotally mounted in each of the recesses 16-16 by providing mounting brackets 18 and leg-engaging pins 1811 on opposite ends of each recess 16, such that when the legs 17 are collapsed therein, they will lie in side-by-side relation, as best shown in FIG. 3. When the legs 17 are pivoted downwardly about the pins 18a, one leg 17 will be positioned in close relation to each of the corners of said case. In the form shown the brackets 18 and legs 17 cooperate in an over-center relation and wherein the outward movement of the leg 17 is limited by abutment with the inner side of the end wall 11b. The legs 17 are extensible along their longitudinal axes by providing an inner telescoping section 17a and lock means 170 on the end of the outer telescoping section 17b.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, either set of legs may be arranged to extend outwardly from the case A in order to afford more stability when the case is being used, the front set of legs, of course, extending forwardly and the rear set rearwardly. This modification is easily accomplished by arranging the mounting brackets 18 angularly to the bottom of the case.

To cover the recesses 16 and legs 17 when in collapsed condition within the recesses, we provide a lower cover panel 13 which is hinged to the lower edge of one of the side Walls 11a by the piano hinge 13a and wherein the other opening end of said panel 13 is provided with closures such as the tab elements 13b with openings therein to receive the extending pin on the lower portion of the side wall 11a of storage compartment 11 for securing thereto.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the top closure member 12 is hinged to the upper end of one of the side walls 11a, said hinge 12a limiting the rotational movement of the cover 12 thereabout, such that when the cover 12 is in fully opened position it will lie in a plane substantially normal to the storage compartment 11. In the form shown the cover member 12 is provided with a plate mirror 20 having a width less than the length of the cover member 12. A pair of hinged wing mirrors 21 are hinged to each end of the cover 12 by hinges 21a to provide a three-Way mirror when in open position. Each of said wing mirrors 21 is of a width not more than one-half the length of the cover member 12 to permit collapsing into flush face-to-face relation with said plate mirror 20. A pair of illuminating means, such as the fluorescent light tubes 22 are arranged in sockets 22a in recesses 1217 on either end of the mirror 20 and a con ventional electric cord 23 for plugging into an available electric socket is provided for energizing said lights 22. In our use of the fluorescent lights we provide a light wherein the ballast 22b is separable from the tube portion 22, thus allowing a lighter weight fixture.

It should be noted that a substantial area 24 behind the plate mirror 21 remains availabe for use. It is obvious that the plate mirror 21) could be hinged or otherwise removable so as to allow access to this portion for additional storage space, or a portion thereof may be used in the manner We have found most useful, as storage for the ballast 22b of the lights 22.

Although we choose to show our lights 22 being energized by an external source, it should, of course, be understood that a self-contained electric source, such as batteries, could be placed in the unused portion 24, thus eliminating the need for the electric cord 23, or further that such lights could be operated on either alternating current or direct current. For storage the electric cord 23 may be coiled in a compartment area as shown in FIG. 2.

To lock the top closure member 12 to the storage compartment 11, we provide cooperating locking elements such as the hasp 25 on the cover 12 and the hasp-receiving and locking element 2511 on the storage portion 11. For ease of carrying the closed case, handle means 26 are provided on a portion thereof.

To use our carrying case, the lower cover panel 13 is swung open and the legs 17 are rotated from their collapsed position within the recesses 16 and set to a desirable height and locked thereto with the locking means 170. The case may now be set on its four supporting legs. The closing hasp 25 is then opened and the top closure member 12 is swung into upstanding position. The wing mirrors 21 may now be opened to provide a three-way mirror. The panel members are also opened to provide working space and to allow access to the articles within the compartment 14a. If desired, the electric cord 23 may be plugged into an available socket for illumination of the mirrors. The case is, of course, closed by reversing the opening procedure.

Although our case may be made from many materials, we have found it to be to one advantage to use a light weight metal such as aluminum. Aluminum is easily formed and further is non-combustible which is extremely important in order to conform to Underwriter Laboratory specifications concerning electrically energized portable equipment.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportion of parts without departing from the scope of our invention, which generally stated consists in the matter set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A portable overnight vanity .case with a compartmented storage area comprising, in combination,

(a) a case portion having a bottom with upstanding walls forming side and end walls to define said storage area and having a plurality of partitions therein to divide said storage area into a plurality of compartments;

(b) a top closure panel for said case portion, said top closure panel having a top with downwardly extending end and side walls, one of the side walls of said top closure being hinged to one of the side walls of said case portion whereby the top panel when in a fully opened position will lie in a plane substantially normal to the storage area;

(0) a mirror panel having a Width less than the length of said top closure panel, said mirror panel being disposed on the inward side of said top closure to form a hollow compartment with said top closure and open recesses at opposite ends of said mirror panel;

(d) illuminating means disposed in each of said open recesses to illuminate said mirror panel;

(e) a pair of panels hinged respectively to the upper portion of the said end walls by hinges, the panels being not more than one half the length of the compartmented storage area, the said panels being rotatable from a position on top of said compartmented storage area to an outstanding relation to the compartmented storage area when in the open position; and

(f) the said portable vanity also having locking elements on the top closure panel and case portion for securing them when in the closed position.

2. The portable overnight vanity case of claim 1 and including (a) a pair of wing mirror panels hinged to the end walls of said top closure panel to produce a threeway mirror, each of the wing mirror panels being not more than one-half the width of the top closure panel; and

(b) a pair of recesses formed along opposite walls, and legs pivoted at the end of the recesses, said legs being collapsible into said recesses, the recesses being on the bottom of the said case portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,176,473 3/16 Loring 312-226 X 1,330,734 2/20 Calarco 312-255 X 1,382,983 6/21 Kent 312227 X 1,790,836 2/31 Porter 3 l2-227 X 2,184,358 12/39 Moore 248-191 X 2,248,871 7/41 Howe 312-255 X 2,721,779 10/55 Fulkerson 3 l2255 2,758,900 8/56 Marchand 312-227 X FOREIGN PATENTS 291,303 8/15 Germany.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE OVERNIGHT VANITY CASE WITH A COMPARTMENTED STORAGE AREA COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, (A) A CASE PORTION HAVING A BOTTOM WITH UPSTANDING WALLS FORMING SIDE AND END WALLS TO DEFINE SAID STORAGE AREA AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF PARTITIONS THEREIN TO DIVIDE SAID STORAGE AREA INTO A PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS; (B) A TOP CLOSURE PANEL FOR SAID CASE PORTION, SAID TOP CLOSURE PANEL HAVING A TOP WITH DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING END AND SIDE WALLS, ONE OF THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID TOP CLOSURE BEING HINGED TO ONE OF THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID CASE PORTION WHEREBY THE TOP PANEL WHEN IN A FULLY OPENED POSITION WILL LIE IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE STORAGE AREA; (C) A MIRROR PANEL HAVING A WIDTH LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID TOP CLOSURE PANEL, SAID MIRROR PANEL BEING DISPOSED ON THE INWARD SIDE OF SAID TOP CLOSURE TO FORM A HOLLOW COMPARTMENT WITH SAID TOP CLOSURE AND OPEN RECESSES AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID MIRROR PANEL; (D) ILLUMINATING MEANS DISPOSED IN EACH OF SAID OPEN RECESSES TO ILLUMINATE SAID MIRROR PANEL; (E) A PAIR OF PANELS HINGED RESPECTIVELY TO THE UPPER PORTION OF THE SAID END WALLS BY HINGES, THE PANELS BEING NOT MORE THAN ONE HALF THE LENGTH OF THE COMPARTMENTED STORAGE AREA, THE SAID PANELS BEING ROTATABLE FROM A POSITION ON TOP OF SAID COMPARTMENTED STORAGE AREA TO AN OUTSTANDING RELATION TO THE COMPARTMENTED STORAGE AREA WHEN IN THE OPEN POSITION; AND (F) THE SAID PORTABLE VANITY ALSO HAVING LOCKING ELEMENTS ON THE TOP CLOSURE PANEL AND CASE PORTION FOR SECURING THEM WHEN IN THE CLOSED POSITION. 